Per il ciclo di interviste:
"Gli amici di Xena"

Darkamy intervista Angie (webmaster di http://xenawp.org)

(si ringrazia Scanto per le traduzioni)

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1. Hi Angie, welcome to Xandrella.com from me and Xandrella. Tell us something about you: how did you know Xena.

I stumbled upon uber fan fiction when searching for lesbian fiction online and then started reading classic fanfic. Maternal Instincts was my first episode. I had no idea who Hope or Solon or Callisto were, so the story made little sense to me, but Xena and Gab's emotional connection was so strong. I had never seen anything like it on tv before - and have never felt such a connection to and between characters since.

1. What season, character and episode you like most and why?
Tall, dark and dangerous (Xena) will always be my favorite, but in terms of other characters, I also have quite a fondness for Minya, the original fan girl. A Day in the Life is one of my favorite episodes also because we get to see X & G in their normal domestic lives together. One Against an Army gets my vote for its amazing fight scene and the portrayal of the X & G relationship.

2. What inspired you to create your website?
Once upon a time, I studied to become an archivist, and although my career path changed, I jumped at the chance to join the board of the Xena Archiving Society when it was formed to save the Xena fandom's creative works. Although the XAS folded, a few of us put untold hours into the project. One of the major accomplishments my site partner and I had done was to list and categorize thousands of Xena and multi-fandom websites from all of the different corners of the Xenaverse (Joxer/Gab, Xena/Ares, Ares/Joxer, the dominant Xena/Gab community, etc.). We decided to share that part of the project, and that's how the Mammoth Index of Xena Fan Sites was born. I now maintain the Mammoth site myself, and although the overall number of websites has gone down over the years, there are still new Xena inspired sites like yours popping up all the time.

3. There have been other lesbian characters on television in the last several years. What makes Xena and Gabrielle so important as lesbian icons, even though their sexuality was never made clear?
I don't think there has been any other show centered on the relationship between two independent women. There have been other action shows (Wonder Woman), or lesbian couples (Buffy), or lesbian characters (The L Word), but Xena put the Xena/Gabrielle relationship front and center in a romantic way, even mentioning their soulmate status. The other thing is that Xena as a character had a different toughness about her that defied conventional notions of femininity. She didn't fit in with the other girls :-)

4. Have you been involved in other fandoms?
Xena was my first fan community, but in the last couple years, I became involved in the femslash community for fans of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Of course I had to start an index of websites ( http://xenawp.org/svu ), but it's a much smaller group of people, and I've found myself losing interest in the show as Detective Olivia Benson becomes less androgynous (ie more like the other girls :-)

5. Do you collect any Xena memorabilia?
Way too much! I have just about every action figure, the fan club kits, cereal, books, soundtracks, dvds, games, comics, hats, t-shirts, hundreds of magazines that feature Lucy on the cover ... the list goes on. But I don't have the Xena talking stand-up!

6. The final episode of the show (A Friend in Need) was very debated in Italy. Many disliked it. What were the reactions of the American fans about this ending and what is your opinion?
Well, I'm one of the fans who has never seen A Friend in Need, by choice. I was out of the country when it aired in the US, and at that time, I read all of the wailing and nashing of teeth from other online fans who were upset at Xena's death. She's my superhero. Why would I ever want to see her die and separated from her soulmate? If there ever is a movie in which she is brought back to life, I'll be ready to watch FIN.

7. Did you ever meet Lucy Lawless or Renee O'Connor and what of them impressed you mostly?
Unfortunately, I've only seen them from afar in my seat at conventions. After Coffee Talk 4 came out (taking place in Renee's home), I did have a dream that I went to Renee's house to change my clothes. Unfortunately, she was on the phone the whole time I was there <g>.

8. What would you like to find in the show that you didn't?
I would have liked to have Xena and Gabrielle kiss, at least just once, as an expression of love and not a transfer of water or mouth to mouth. It wasn't necessary as a validation, but it did seem like something missing.

9. What's your opinion about Callisto in the show and her role in Xena's sentimental life?
Callisto was such a perfect villain for Xena, bringing out her internal struggles so vividly. I really thought it was a great touch that she impregnated Xena as well. Both women came full circle.

10. Thanks for your willingness. See you soon!
Thank you!